Maternal mortality has increased in the Ashanti Region, with 181 women dying during childbirth in 2022.
According to health officials in the region, the amount represents 22 percent of the 875 fatalities registered across the country in the fiscal year under review.
Maternal mortality in the region has been linked to eclampsia and postpartum haemorrhage.
Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, Ashanti Regional Health Director, provided a more detailed summary of the annual health performance evaluation in Kumasi.
“Maternal mortality still remains a challenge in the region, during the year under review. Our maternal mortality rate increased marginally from 132 per 1,000 live births to 134 per 1,000 live births. The total number of maternal deaths recorded in the region was 181. The major cause of maternal deaths remains eclampsia and post-partum haemorrhage, while the percentage of maternal deaths was 20%,” Ashanti Regional Health Director said.
Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye has urged for the strengthening of systems to address maternal fatalities.
“Our performance review at the national level has been very significant. We have decreased in institutional infant mortality rate across the nation. Our neo-mortality rate is down, institutional maternal mortality decreased from hundred and eleven to hundred and two, per hundred thousand live births.
Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye further mentioned, “I believe this is one of the lowest we ever recorded since we started recording institutional maternal mortality ratios. The number of total deaths reduced from 875 to 809. Ashanti region alone contributed 181. There’s more work to be done to address the issue. If we did 90% we will be doing much better”.
